One participant who has walked in the Rays of Hope Walk & Run Toward the Cure of Breast Cancer every year with family and friends is the event's founder and breast cancer survivor, Lucia "Lucy" Giuggio Carvalho. The evolution of the fundraiser and advances in the treatment of the disease, as well as survivors' willingness to speak out about it, are what give her a sense of hope for a cure.

CONTINUE READING LUCY'S STORY HERE

Breast cancer was the last thing she expected when she found a lump in her breast in 2017. “There’s no breast cancer in my family, there’s no genetic lineage, I’m the first one” Bubar said. When she found the lump, she said it didn’t really register, she just thought “something weird” was happening.

“Even through all the doctor visits and evaluations and biopsies and all the things they do to get to that point of what it actually is, through that whole process it was so surreal, and I just kept saying, even after the first biopsy ‘It’s not cancer, we know that. Why would it be cancer, that’s impossible’.”

For the health-conscious mother with two young children, the diagnosis of breast cancer – which came a week after her 35th birthday that July – was a total shock..."

CONTINUE READING LINDSEY'S STORY HERE

Rocking white hi-top sneakers, custom-bedazzled at her request by a friend, Denise Jordan illuminated her 50th birthday party with the special sparkle her family and friends know and love. Here’s what many of her guests didn’t know: Denise’s infusion port had been removed that very morning – marking the conclusion of her course of treatment for breast cancer.

“When I was diagnosed, I had two questions: When can I get it done? And how long will I be out of work?” remembers Denise, who served as chief of staff to Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and is now the executive director of the Springfield Housing Authority. Denise crafted her own answer – reporting for chemotherapy or radiation at Baystate Regional Cancer Program’s D’Amour Center for Cancer Care each morning and heading to her City Hall office in the afternoon”.

CONTINUE READING DENISE'S STORY HERE

Sandy first started walking the Rays of Hope Walk & Run Toward the Cure 24 years ago to support her best friend after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her relationship to Rays of Hope took on a new meaning recently when Sandy was diagnosed with breast cancer.

CONTINUE READING SANDY'S STORY HERE

My period came and went, the lump was still there, and my breast was tender and painful, so I called my doctor to get an appointment to have her look at it. After she did an examination on me, I was told not to worry, that it couldn’t be breast cancer because 1, I was young, 2, I had no family history, and 3, breast cancer doesn’t hurt. She said it was most likely mastitis (even though I have not breast fed in many years) and was prescribed antibiotics. To be safe, she did make an appointment for me to see a breast specialist at the Baystate Breast & Wellness Center the following week.”

CONTINUE READING CASEY'S STORY HERE

“It all began on Monday, July 16, 2018. I had my yearly mammogram, just as I had done every year since I turned 40. The following day, I received a phone call saying that the picture wasn't clear and that I’d need to come in for an ultrasound on Friday. The results of the ultrasound were inconclusive. The inconclusive results required additional testing, which required another appointment."

CONTINUE READING RANDI'S STORY HERE

"In 2011, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I couldn’t believe that my first mammogram, at the age of 40, would be my last. Within a few days of my diagnosis I met with my oncologist at the D’Amour Center for Cancer Care where they explained the details surrounding my diagnosis. During the visit I was handed a three ring binder with information pertaining to decisions regarding reconstruction. I felt as though there was no time to think or comprehend what was happening. I was in complete shock and I was at a loss for words. I couldn’t believe that in just a few weeks I’d be having the biggest surgery of my life."

CONTINUE READING JACKIE'S STORY HERE

Katerina was 28 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. "On July 30, a biopsy was ordered on a tumor that was found in my left breast. The biopsy was done on a Friday and I was told I'd receive a phone call on Wednesday with the pathology results. My family and friends kept telling me that there was ‘nothing to worry about.’ At 28 years old, I was ‘too young to have breast cancer.’ There’s ‘no alarming medical or family history’ and that ‘it's probably nothing.’ Fast forward to Wednesday."

CONTINUE READING KATERINA'S STORY HERE